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Tart set t SHANNON E. MOTLEY Staff Writer David Tart believes m the power of teamwork and thinks it might hold the magic it will take to bring the Gamecocks' men's soccer team out of last season's slump. The 22-year-old senior captain said the team worked through its disappointment last season ? when they finished 8-9-2 under head coach Mark Berson?with a spring full of position and attitude changes. "Coach [Berson] was concerned with players' team concept, but he did a good job explaining it to [the captains], and we relayed that to the team," said Tart, a biology major who hopes to go to medical school after graduation. Through us, the younger guys understood how things needed to be done as a team," he said, emphasizing "team." Tart will be playing defense for the Gamecocks this season as a right fullback. He had been a midfielder, but because of the style of play and Berson's decision to move players around, Tart will be in a new spot. "We didn't have the season we wanted last fall," the Garner, N.C., native said "But, spring was productive and things look better." USC was one of the top tour teams in the country two years ago, but they lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after a bad game, Tart said. The team garnered preseason ranking in 1996, but finished unranked and, for the first time in five years, L You Might to Say Shoe Lace 254-7801? 21 Office Hours*Moncarter-haston pro < k o help oV< without an NCAA Tournament bid. "We were confident we would win the national championship," Thrt said. 1.1. ~ i. J. 3 i. Dui me team ciienusiry anu it: tun attitude were not where they should have been. "It was like we were on a roller coaster. We beat big teams and then would lose to small teams we shouldn't have." Thrt said USC has a great recruiting class for the 1997 season, which includes some players who have previous NCAA soccer experience. "It's a hard transition from high school to college, and ifs easier because they have played college ban," he said. Tart said he visited and was recruited by North Carolina State, North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Greensboro, Furman and South Carolina out of high school, when he was on the Under-17 National Soccer Tfeam. "I had ties to N.C. State, and I visited the other schools, but Coach Berson impressed me and my parents, and I was impressed by the program," Tart said of why he chose Carolina. Tart was redshirted his first year after breaking his leg. Despite the injury, he made a great recovery and has earned his place as a 1997 team captain, as well as four varsity letters. He was also a scholar-athlete AilAmerican in 1996. Tart has a positive attitude about the season ahead. He said the spring games, workouts and attitude changes ate Foi If you live c ou won't be the eld ei /our car br< Be Able a Your / Broke! L 1 Main St. is r # a a r a a v m o:juo:ju ^ perties jPORTS ercome 199( ^j W Ten ___ . . . A . Tfc t .fl TO A 9 ubl men s soccer captain wavia iart is p? Tart said position and attitude changes will were necessary to boost the team spirit have son and get them ready for the 1997 "Win one schedule. on the n< "What I hope is we're not ranked, Tournan because the young guys feel like they Final Foi r Class? 11 it Whaley's i able to use ccuse that , ike down... I f TR b woes helj I ^ 40( sev H her I anc wa tha ^ Aw r Bri anc sele v p.t wit fou] hor ?4 re? "***"" Ell( a in the wil Special to The Gamecock SlT adv for the 1997 season. Dei help the team improve. red lething to prove," Tart said. and game, and then concentrate a p< ext game, then the NCAA lent, and then look to the fini it." hot] \ iW 'Ban icloud | [ley* ^ to Del Mar *0?kl?Y'? m?>Mt but w ACK continued from page 12 "The men are young and it really rvrv/^l r% rtf fr\ noi+iAinotd W ^u. a iul ui uicu.ii ikj pcu uupic iicic, re said. Tbnique Williams was ninth in the ) meters. Erin Narzinski finished enth in the women's heptathlon at . first NCAA meet. "I missed sixth place by three points * ' I that's painfiil," Narzinski said. "I nted to be Ail-American and I did it." Ten Gamecocks received Alllerican honors. They Ellerbe mmer, shot put), Misipeka (hammer, t put), Mannon (hammer, shot put), viicptatiiiuu/, vijotai )wnlee (shot put) and Charmaine well (800 meters), and the men's .00 relay, which consisted of Corey dges, Shah Mays, Jamaal Williams 1 Jamie Price. Misispeka's eighth All-American ^ iction set a school record. Ellerbe finished her collegiate career h four NCAA titles, five SEC titles, r USATF titles and six All-American tors. She also holds the American ird in the hammer. Although the team will miss jrbe's contributions, it does return amber of top performers, including other nine All-Americans. The team I also have the services of Brad pder, Ryan Harrison and Riaan npers, key performers who were shirted due to injuries. Fiye said the success of this season [ the talented newcomers will bring ssitive outlook for next season. "We should be in the position to ^ sh in the top five next year with b programs," he said. ?w I BAISCH I OQO I & LOMB | OO^ I WORLDWIDE SPONSOR I 1996 OLYMPIC GAMES Arnette ^ Revo B Hobie Garonvle KillerUiop